How 'bout you Jimmie, you an oak man?

January 2006

01/31/2006

But seriously. . . eh. These things all sound alike now. The Iraq stuff is good, but nobody bothers paying attention anymore. The domestic stuff is at an impasse-- the only legislation that gets passed anymore is *bad* legislation.

Blah, blah, blah.

In spite of efforts to avoid them, there were a few dramatic points during the speech. In describing our enemy, it was welcome to hear President Bush utter the clarifying words "radical Islam." Also, his plea to the people of Iran wasn't a bad bit of theater. And when it came to defending the NSA eavesdropping on Al Qaeda communications, the President hit exactly the right note, albeit one unpopular with the Left, as evidenced by the high-larious camera cut to the terminally unserious Hillary!

One funny moment: the omnipresent look of awe on newly-minted Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's face. Every time the camera focused on him, Alito had the look of "Oh my God, I can't believe I'm actually sitting here. And in these robes! Look, over there-- it's Donald Rumsfeld! Wowww. . ."

Two bizarre moments. First, when President Bush brought up the line-item veto, that long-dead panacea for all ills in Washington. As my buddy Mike helpfully noted in a quick phone call, the last iteration of the line-item veto was declared unconstitutional, so unless someone in Congress introduces a constitutional amendment, that idea won't be going anywhere.

Secondly, the gall of the Democrats to actually cheer the defeat of Bush's Social Security reform was somewhat shocking. I mean, whether you agree or disagree with the particulars, Bush was (and is) fundamentally correct in his proposition that the entitlement system is structurally unsustainable. Hell, it's worse than that-- even if the system can fund itself for another fifty years, the larger question remains: should it? A system this inefficient, this unfair, and ultimately, this un-American should be allowed to die on the vine.

But hey, that's just the small-government conservative crank in me talkin' again.

Crazy Funny Line Update: I'm sorry, but when President Bush spoke about the need to ban cloning, embryo harvesting, etc., I couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably when he uttered the line "human-animal hybrids." I half-expected to hear Bush start railing against Dr. Moreau.

Readers of the online magazine were asked to vote according to the woman they would most want a relationship with, would consider marrying or thought best-suited to be the mother of their children.

Sheesh, by those standards all three would be a pain in the tuchus. Alba would need constant help spelling her name, Miller wouldn't stop complaining whenever you banged the nanny, and Jolie would ask you to adopt Uruguay.

I'm guessing that it's not a scratchy VHS copy of The Manhattan Project.

From the A.P.:

First mention of the documents was made late last year in a longer IAEA report. At that time, the agency said only that the papers showed how to cast "enriched, natural and depleted uranium metal into hemispherical forms."

The agency refused to make a judgment on what possible uses such casts would have. But diplomats familiar with the probe into Iran's nuclear program said then that the papers apparently were instructions on how to mold highly enriched grade uranium into the core of warheads.

In the brief report obtained Tuesday, however, the agency said bluntly that the 15-page document showing how to cast fissile uranium into metal was "related to the fabrication of nuclear weapon components."

Of course, nothing here is surprising.

What would be surprising is if this revelation were to finally lead the "international community" (*cough*) to openly acknowledge what everybody already knows, i.e., that Iran is seeking nuclear power of a decidely explosive bent.

My guess is that this won't do anything of the sort, not with the United Nations, and certainly not with the wire services.

Okay, okay-- I've gotten any number of emails and comments asking for the Garfield Ridge position on singer Lisa Loeb prancing around in her thong on the set of her new reality show, #1 Single (which I gushed about last week).

01/30/2006

With the Oscar nominations coming out Tuesday, I owe all of the Garfield Ridge readers my picks for the best and worst in movies for 2005.

After compiling my list of movies that I saw in the theater last year, I was totally surprised at how few I saw-- only 42 new releases in the theater. Given how in years past I've seen close to 60 films on average, 2005 represents a new low by far. Alas, my only excuse is that I've grown impatient with crappy movies, refusing to see them in the theater for the prices they charge.

So, understand that my list is hardly comprehensive, although I am confident that I saw all of the movies most likely to end up nominated in the big categories this morning.

Please note: the hotlinks below will take you to my reviews of the linked films, in case you wish to read more of my opinion.

Without further adieu, the Garfield Ridge Best and Worst Movies of 2005, after the jump. . .

I have to run to a meeting, so this is a quick reax; I'll have more later.

Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Crash, Munich, and Good Night, and Good Luck. I'm simply shocked that Munich made it on that list, if only because everyone thought the movie was *dead* in the horse racing. There's no chance it will win, of course, but it's surprising that Steven Spielberg still carries that much weight in Hollywood that he can ensure a nomination for one of his most mediocre films.

If I had to choose a replacement for Munich, I'd have chosen Walk the Line. No, it didn't make my top ten for 2005, but it was very good, and it's the type of movie that usually ends up nominated.

George Clooney got tapped for Best Director for Good Night, and Good Luck (deserved), and Best Actor for Syriana (ehhh. . . he was one of the best things in that film, but I liked him better in the supporting role for GN&GL).

More reaction later. . .

UPDATE: Here's the complete list of nominations.

Having seen that, a few more observations:

-- Best Actor is a solid category, every nom is worthy (nice to see them not forget Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow, he's amazing in that film).

-- Best Actress is a joke. Keira Knightley? Charlize Theron for that sexual harrassment film from 1973? (Okay, it wasn't from 1973, but it sure felt like it). Whatever, it's Reese Witherspoon's to lose. I never really liked her before Walk the Line, but she's the best thing in that movie.

-- Best Supporting Actor is another solid category, although again I preferred George Clooney's Good Night, and Good Luck performance over his in Syriana. To be honest, Matt Damon is better in the latter film (and Alexander Siddig is best of all in that movie). However, it's fantastic that William Hurt's brief-but-meaty turn in A History of Violence didn't go unnoticed.

-- Best Supporting Actress is a mixed bag. The race there is definitely between Rachel Weisz in The Constant Gardener and Michelle Williams in Brokeback Mountain (a glaring if accidental omission from my list of best actresses of 2005-- Williams does an awful lot with a little in Brokeback).

-- Best Director has no surprises, as all the directors of the films in the Best Picture category got nominated. Yet, I'm still somewhat bemused that Spielberg managed to snag his Munich nods. Good to see that Crash broke through (whether you find the movie great or crappy pap, or both, it's still excellent filmmaking).

-- Best Cinematography: I'm guessing Brokeback Mountain will win this if they garner a sweep, but The New World's cinematography was even better; glad to see it nominated.

-- Best Visual Effects: King Kong will win this one, but no nod for ILM for Star Wars? Heh.

-- Best Original Screenplay: Yeesh. Syriana's screenplay was a mess (Oh, the movie was *supposed* to be confusing? Riiight, sure pal). Good Night, and Good Luck wrote itself (all the best dialogue was taken from transcripts). The Squid and the Whale was just too far out there. Match Point's script was pretty snazzy, but my guess is Crash is by far the one to beat here.

-- Best Adapated Screenplay: Brokeback Mountain will win this, but A History of Violence (adapted from a graphic novel, of all places) is such the better film. Again, how Munich earned a nomination, I have no idea (must be the ballots from the Hollywood "oxygen tent" crowd).

Anyway, all in all, a decent year for nominations, although my favorite movies of last year were mostly shut out, as usual. Still, some quality picks in this one.

I Can't Believe I Overlooked This Update: In the Best Original Song category, Hustle & Flow's "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" was nominated, ensuring the coolest Oscar musical performance since South Park's "Blame Canada" a few years back.